SOMEWHERE TO ELSEWHERE

In 2000 Kansas came back with this album - easily their greatest since Point Of Know Return released in 1977. This version of the band consists of seven people, including Kerry Livgren who was the mastermind behind most of the bands best songs from their classic 70's albums, and original violinist Robby Steinhardt.

Icarus II opens the album and it is a masterpiece song in classic Kansas style! It is definitely up there with the very best songs from the band's classic albums. It has a very strong melody and great lyrics that work together to tell an emotional story of a pilot having to fight a battle in the sky. I love the way the drums resemble machine guns and the guitar make the sound of the planes diving trough the sky. This song also features a short quote from Icarus (Borne On Wings Of Steel) - a track from the band's Masque album from the 70's.

None of the other tracks on Somewhere To Elsewhere are as great as this amazing opener, but there are several very good songs here. The vocals duties are shared by Steve Walsh and Robbie Stenhardt, and their singing voices have matured in my opinion, and Walsh is not trying here to reach notes that he cannot reach.

Overall, this is a confident and mature work. Well crafted and melodious and with some interesting instrumental work sometimes reminiscent of the bands 70's heyday. The connection with the 70's Kansas should not be exaggerated, however. While all the classic trademarks of Kansas are here - the violins, the keyboards, the blistering guitar solos and the emotional vocals and lyrics - this is by no means a retro work; it is perhaps rooted in the classic Kansas sound, but this is also a different type of music that even might appeal to someone who doesn't care much for the band's early albums. The sound is more modern and, I would say, timeless. Calling this music groundbreaking would be an exaggeration, but calling it fresh is appropriate.

Highly recommended!

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